Analysis of diagnostic and therapy accuracy index based on non-melanona's skin cancer dermoscopy

Introduction: Non-melanoma skin cancer is among the most frequent neoplasms in Brazil and is deemed a public health problem. Initial diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and includes dermoscopy. Confirmation is carried out via histological analysis. Dermoscopy also contributes to the demarcation of tumor safety margins. Objective: To analyze the accuracy of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer and its effectiveness in defining the lateral margins of these tumors in excisional biopsies. Methods: Comparison of the dermoscopy-based diagnostic hypothesis with the final histological outcome and involvement of lateral margins. Results: The data relating to a total of 70 lesions suspicious of non-melanoma skin cancer arising from a group of 50 patients were evaluated from 2015 to 2017. The comparison of the diagnostic hypothesis with the final histological outcome after excisional biopsy, indicated success rates of 79.6% for suspected cases of basal cell carcinoma and 23.8% for squamous cell carcinoma. Safety margins were observed in 74% of basal cell carcinomas and in 60% of squamous cell carcinomas. Conclusions: The diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancers depends on experienced dermatologists and pathologists, with the interaction between these professionals being crucial. Dermoscopy has contributed in a more significant way to the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma when compared to that of squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: SKIN NEOPLASMS; DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL; MARGIN